§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what means of publicly funded support are available to students who defer final examinations due to illness or personal circumstances.
§ Mr. BoswellThe financial support available to students who defer final examinations will depend on the arrangements made by individual institutions for students to take their examinations.
When the student holds a mandatory award and is absent from the course for a short period the local authority which bestowed the award has power to continue to make such payments of the award as they consider appropriate. If the student has to repeat some or all of the final year of the course he may receive payments of the award, at the discretion of the LEA, and a student loan, depending on the amount of time he is in attendance at the institution; and he can apply for help from the access funds. After 28 weeks of certified sickness a student may claim income support and housing benefit.